I was an overweight child, an overweight young adult, and an overweight adult. As an adult I visited with a Christian Science practitioner, who asked me if there was anything she could help me with. I said yes, I would like to heal being overweight. We talked a bit about that, and what she said made sense to me. She also told me she would pray. At one point during the next few weeks, I read what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat" (Matt. 6:25). I thought, that's right; I don't worry about what I eat at all. Then the thought came clearly: ye shall not pig out. I realized my problem was not so much the type of food I was eating as the amount of it. This focused me. The Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings have a lot to say about temperance and self-control. True, I did have to learn what a normal-sized serving was, but I knew I reflected from God the ability to be controlled and balanced. This change in my thinking became obvious to many as I started to drop pounds. It didn't happen overnight, but I was consistent. Soon I was aware that I needed smaller-sized clothing. I don't really know exactly how long it took, but I know that in the process, I learned to like myself better.
This was truly a step-by-step experience for me. And I learned that baby steps are OK. I used to get discouraged if I wasn't making giant leaps. I am so grateful for learning all this. I love how Christian Science has taught me to think things through. I'm still learning and growing—but not gaining weight! I can wear normal-sized clothing now. It has been over a dozen years since this experience, and I no longer have the urge to pig out. I have learned to recognize value in myself and everyone else.
Halifax, Massachusetts
